Torenia plant named ‘Dantohoneymon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Torenia  plant named ‘Dantohoneymon’ characterized by having shiny green foliage, doted with plenty of delicate, funnel form, cup shaped flowers in shades of pale red-purple and pink; vigorous, bush, cascading, rounded and compact growth habit; densely branched plant habit which gracefully cascades from hanging baskets; early flowering response and stays in full bloom in moderate climate; suitable for use as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under partial shade; and good weather tolerance with preferred temperature range of 15 to 25° C.

Botanical designation: Torenia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘Dantohoneymon’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Toreniaplant of the Scrophulariaceae family, hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Dantohoneymon’.

The new cultivar was originated in a planned mutant selection andmonitoring program in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva Israel. ‘Dantohoneymon’ wasdiscovered and selected by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Novemberof 2002 as an induced shoot mutation on a single flowering plant of theTorenia cultivar designated ‘TR-1-2212’ (unpatented), grown in acontrolled, cultivated environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

‘Dantohoneymon’ is an induced mutant of the cultivar Torenia‘TR-1-2212’. The mutation arose by radiation, as a side shoot,stabilized by removing the cutting from the mutated sector of thetreated plant.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by soft tip cuttings was firstperformed in November of 2002 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true totype.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The follwing traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe unique characteristics of ‘Dantohoneymon’ which in combinationdistinguish this Torenia as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Shiny green foliage, doted with plenty of delicate, funnel        form, cup shaped flowers in shades of pale red-purple and pink;    -   2. Vigorous, bush, cascading, rounded and compact growth habit;    -   3. Densely branched plant, gracefully cascading from hanging        baskets;    -   4. Early flowering and stays in full bloom in moderate climate;    -   5. Suitable for use as an annual for hanging pots outdoors under        partial shade.    -   6. Good weather tolerance with preferred temperature range of        15° C. to 25° C.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to the new Torenia cultivar ‘Dantohoneymon’ is theTorenia cultivar designated ‘TR-1-2212’ (unpatented) in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Character ‘Dantohoneymon’ ‘TR-1-2212’ Flower color PaleRed-Purple and Pink Pink and Violet Flower size (cm) Length: 3 cmLength: 3.8 cm Width: 3 cm Width: 3 cm Growth habit Bush, cascadingBush, cascading Flowering time 9 weeks from planting 10 weeks fromplanting

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawings illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Torenia cultivar ‘Dantohoneymon’ showing the colors as trueas is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe color of ‘Dantohoneymon’.

The first photograph shows a side perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Dantohoneymon’ in a hanging planter at 3 months ofage.

The second photograph shows a close-up view of the typical flowers, budsand leaves of ‘Dantohoneymon’ at 3 months of age.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Torenia cultivar ‘Dantohoneymon’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar mayvary with variations in environment such as temperature, lightintensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of theplant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the followingobservations, measurements and values describe plants of the newcultivar ‘Dantohoneymon’ as grown in a greenhouse in Moshav MishmarHashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice. For use as a pot plant, plants of‘Dantohoneymon’ are grown outdoors in a moderate climate and grownindoors during the winter. Irrigation and fertilization are needed on aregular basis. Plant of ‘Dantohoneymon’ are usually grown in fullsunlight, but partial shade is requird in mid-summer. Plants of‘Dantohoneymon’ are fully grown in 3 months from planting a cutting inthe summer season and bloom all year-round in a moderate climate.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart (R.H.S.), 2001 edition, except where general colors of ordinarysignificance are used. Color values were taken under daylight conditionsat approximately 12:00 noon in June of 2004 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva,Israel. The age of the plant described is 3 months.

-   Classification:    -   -   Botanical.—Torenia sp.        -   Commercial.—Honey Moon.-   Parentage:    -   -   Parent.—Induced shoot mutation of Torenia cultivar            ‘TR-1-2212’ (unpatented).-   Propagation: Tissue culture (micropropagation of young in vitro    plantlet) and soft tip cuttings.-   Plant:    -   -   Form.—Bush, cascading.        -   Growth habit.—Rounded and compact.        -   Height.—15 to 24 cm.        -   Spread.—About 50 cm.        -   Blooming period.—All year round in moderate climate.        -   Cold tolerance.—Frost tender. Temperature below 5° C. may            damage plants.        -   Vigor.—Plants are fully grown in 3 months from planting a            cutting in summer.-   Stem:    -   -   Color.—Yellow-Green, RHS 144-A.        -   Length.—25 cm maximum length.        -   Diameter.—About 0.3 cm.        -   Pubescence.—Minimal and sporadic; stem is quadrangular, few            hairs on the edges.        -   Branching.—About 5 to 9 main branches from the base that            split into secondary and tertiary branches.        -   Length of internodes.—3.8 to 5 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Overall shape.—Convex, deltoid.        -   Apex.—Reniform.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Size of leaf.—Length: About 4.3 cm. Width: About 3.3 cm.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color.—Center color of leaf: Yellow-Green, RHS 146-A. Upper            side: Yellow-Green, RHS 146-A. Under side: Yellow-Green, RHS            146-B.        -   Leaf texture.—Pubescent.        -   Venation.—Not prominent.        -   Petioles.—Length: 1.0 to 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm.            Color: Yellow-Green, RHS 146-B.-   Flowers:    -   -   Blooming period.—All year round in moderate climate.        -   Flowering stem.—Flowers appear along the growing stems;            commonly 3 to 8 on the end of each grown stem.        -   Flowering longevity.—About 4 to 7 days on the plant,            depending on temperature.        -   Type.—Single.        -   Shape.—Funnel form.        -   Orientation at opening.—Slanted upward.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Flower length.—About 3 cm.        -   Flower width.—About 3 cm.        -   Bud.—Shape: Oblong, cylindrical, ellipsoidal, 5 winged.            Size: Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 0.7 cm. Color:            Mixture of purple-violet shades, RHS N80B and RHS 81A.            Texture: Pubescence on winged edges.        -   Floral tube.—Length: About 3.5 cm. Color: Outside: Mixture            of purple shades, RHS 76A, RHS 76B and RHS N78D. Inside:            Purple, RHS 76A, and yellow-orange, RHS 14A.        -   Petals.—Number: Four, fused to floral tube. Length: Upper:            About 2.5 cm. Sides: About 2 cm. Lower: About 2 cm. Width:            Upper: About 1.5 cm. Sides: About 1.2 cm. Lower: About            1.7 cm. Shape: Corolla tube cylindrical or often broadened            above, 2-lipped, the upper lip faintly 2-lobed, the lower            lip 3-lobed. Apex: Rounded. Base: Fused. Margin: Undulated.            Color: The upper lip pale purple with purple corolla, lower            and side lips red-purple, yellow blotch in middle of lower            lip. Mature: Upper Side: A mixture of red-purple, RHS 72B            (side lips); purple, RHS 76B (center and upper lips);            orange, RHS 24A; purple, RHS 75A (margin) and yellow, RHS 7A            (yellow dot). Under Side: A mixture of purple, RHS 77C(upper            lip) and RHS 75A.(side lips). Margin: A mixture of            red-purple, RHS72B and purple, RHS 75A. Throat: A mixture of            purple, RHS 76B (upper throat) and orange, RHS 24A (lower            throat). Immature: Upper Side: A mixture of purple, RHS N78A            (side lips); yellow, RHS 7A (yellow dot); purple, RHS            76A(center and upper lips) and purple-violet, RHS N80C            (lower throat). Under Side: A mixture of purple-violet, RHS            N80B (lips) and RHS N80C (throat). Margin: Purple, RHS N78A.            Throat: Purple-violet, RHS N80C.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width: Abut 0.4 cm.            Shape: Two-lobed, 5 winged. Apex: Acute. Base: Wedge shaped.            Margin: Undulated. Color: Yellow-green, RHS 144-A.        -   Peduncle.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 0.2 cm.            Texture: Smooth. Color: Yellow-Green, RHS 144-A.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Number: 2 pairs per flower; fused.            Color: Purple, RHS 76 D. Anther: Length: About 0.4 cm; upper            anthers are shorter — about 0.3 cm. Width: About 0.05 cm.            Color: Purple, RHS 76 D. Spur: Present. Filament: Length:            About 1.4 cm; lower filaments are shorter — about 0.3 cm.            Width: About 0.05 cm. Color: Purple, RHS 76 D. Pollen:            Amount: Sparse amount. Color: White, RHS N155C. Requirements            for pollination: Young flowers, vital pollen, and receptive,            open stigma.        -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Number: One per flower. Length: About            2.1 cm. Stigma: Shape: Two lobes, open to opposite sides,            deltoid shape. Length: About 0.25 cm. Width: About 0.3 cm.            Color: Purple, RHS 76B. Style: Length: About 1.7 cm. Color:            Purple, RHS 76C. Ovary: Number: 1. Length: About 0.5 cm.            Width: About 0.25 cm. Color: Green, RHS 143-A.-   Seed/fruit: None.-   Pest/disease resistance and/or susceptibility: A standard    preventative spray program is sufficient as no susceptibility was    observed.-   Temperature tolerance: Sensitive to temperatures below 5° C.

1. A new and distinct Torenia plant named ‘Dantohoneymon’, substantiallyas illustrated and described herein.